Hepatitis B Vaccination of Men Who Have Sex With Men Attending an Urban STD Clinic: Impact of an Ongoing Vaccination Program, 1998–2003

Abstract

To evaluate the impact of an ongoing hepatitis B vaccination service offered in an urban sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic. During the period 1998–2003, hepatitis B vaccine acceptance, series completion, and vaccine coverage rates were evaluated among men who have sex with men (MSM) and other clients attending the main STD clinic in San Diego County, California. Among 21,631 STD clinic attendees, 81% were eligible to start and 69% accepted hepatitis B vaccination. Among a cohort of MSM starting vaccination in 1998, 76% and 55% received 2 doses and 3 doses, respectively, after 1 year follow-up and coverage then increased 1–2 percentage points annually to a final 2-dose and 3-dose coverage of 80% and 62%, respectively. Vaccine coverage (≥1 prior vaccine dose) among STD clinic attendees in 2003 was 45% compared to only 11% in 1998, the first year of the program. Hepatitis B vaccination can be integrated into STD clinic services with reasonable levels of vaccine acceptance and series completion. The increase in vaccination coverage over time indicates that a sustained hepatitis B immunization program can achieve acceptable vaccine coverage in high-risk populations.